Chicago Tribune sues over Mayor Emanuel’s private email use

The Chicago Tribune is suing Mayor Rahm Emanuel over claims he violated open records laws by failing to disclose personal emails and texts used to conduct city business. The other hits to Chicagoans’ wallets range from a new garbage-hauling fee and building permit fee increases to a new tax on electronic cigarettes and ride-sharing and taxi fee increases.

To city has been going through hard time trying to meet the structural deficits and tackle a $30 billion pension crisis which saddled Chicago with a junk bond rating.

The first-term Republican governor, locked in a state budget battle with legislative Democrats, says raising taxes won’t fix all problems and has pushed to freeze property taxes.

The budget proposal depends on state lawmakers in Springfield approving an expanded property tax exemption for owners of homes valued at $250,000 or less.

The tax, which would rake in an estimated $588 million for city coffers over the next four years, is the highest proposed hike in Chicago’s history.

Brown acknowledges Emanuel’s budget plan shows he’s willing to make tough political choices that won’t be popular with voters or the business community, especially after being labeled ‘Mayor 1%’ during the mayoral election, but to rectify the city’s finances requires revenue reform at the state level.

Emanuel says the city owes so much to its retiring police and firefighters that he has to raise property taxes.

CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA: It included things like an alternative minimum property tax for downtown skyscrapers.

“It’s great rhetoric for him”, Alderman John Arena said. “The taxpayers of the city of Chicago were getting the raw end of the raw deal”.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel outlines his 2016 proposed budget Tuesday, calling for a phased-in $543 million property tax increase. “We are not going away quietly”. Taxis now pay $4 per airport pickup.

EMANUEL: I believe we will be remembered as the men and women who pulled Chicago back from the financial brink and made Chicago stronger.